Device for grinding the edges of blades



Se t. 14, 1937. w. A. CANNON 2,092,831 DEVICE FOR-GRINDING THEEDGES OF BLADES Q Fi-led m. 27, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2/ L10 /7 j; 24 mum/ram (H/JQL tPmJwi 5W w. A. CANNON 2,092,831

Sept. 14, 1937.

DEVICE FOR GRINDING THE EDGES OF BLADES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27, 1956 7 I m /7 I \fi l v dkl w z/ 15 M/I E/VTOE Patented Sept. 14, 1937' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR. GRINDING THE EDGES 0F BLADES Will Alban Cannon, Niagara Falls, N. Y. Application January 27, 1930, seri l No. 60,900

18 Claims.

to provide a grinding device of this kind in which the stone or grinding element can be used in such a manner as to avoid deformation or grooving thereof by the blades during the use of the device, so that the grinding element may be used effectively for a much greater amount of grinding than was heretofore'possible. Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind in which the grinding element or stone will be properly centered with reference to the blade which is being ground, regardless of the shape of the blade or the size of the stone or grinding element. Another object is to provide a device of this kind in which guide members of improved construction are provided which are yieldingly pressed into engagement with the sides of the blade, and which can accommodate themselves to blades of various shapes and thicknesses in such a manner that the grinding element will beproperly centered with reference to all of such blades. Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind of simple and efficient construction, and in which the parts which are subject towear can be formed of different material than other parts of the device, so that the life of the device is increased. Other objects of the invention will appear from'the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings: I Fig. l is a side elevation of. a grinding or sharpening device embodying this invention and showing the same applied to the blade or runner of a skate.

Fig. '2 is an end view thereof. Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof. r Fig. 4 is a transverse section thereof, online il, Fig. 3. V

Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional elevation thereof.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view thereof, partly in section.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the guide means of the edge grinding device, showing the same detached from the device. 7

Fig. 8 is atransverse sectional elevation of the device on an enlarged scale, and showing the same operating on a blade of one type.

Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view thereof approximately on line 9--9, Fig. 8. Y y Figs. 10, and.11 are transverse sectional views similar to Fig. 8, and showing the device operat-' ing on blades of different shapes.

l5 represents a housing of my skate sharpening device within which is arranged .a stone or abrasive or grinding element 16 which is preferably of cylindrical form and the axis of which extends lengthwise of the housing. A, Fig, 1,

represents a blade to be ground or. sharpened which in the form shown is a blade or runner of a skate. It will be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit this invention .only to the use of sharpening or grindinglof skates, since it will be obviousthat the same may be usedin other kinds.

connection with grinding the edges of blades of Q 7 The housing I5 extendssubstantially around.

the. curved periphery of the grinding element It and is, provided with a longitudinally extending opening or slit into which the blade to be ground may be inserted to press against the grinding element and in the use of the device, the housingand blade are moved relatively to each other in such a manner that the grinding .element i6 and the blade A move lengthwise relatively to eachother, whereby the grinding element [6 will cause the outer edge of the blade to be ground.

It will be obvious that in order to accurately grind the edges of blades, the blade'and grinding element must be held in correct relationto each other.

In grinding blades such as skate V runners, the grinding element must be correctly centered with reference to the blade, so that the central plane of the blade coincides with the axis of the cylindrical grinding element. In the case of other blades in which the ground edge is inclined or bevelled with reference to the sides housing, so that as a consequence the grinding element will be correctly positioned relatively to the guide members and relatively to a blade positioned between the guide members. Various constructions to effect these results may be employed, and in the particular construction i1- lustrated, the guide means include a pair of guide members or shoes l'i arranged in the longitudinal opening in the housing into which the blade may I be inserted, the particular guide shoes shown being of angle shaped cross section, although guide shoes of different form may be employed, if desired. The guide members may be made of a hard wear-resisting material, or if desired, the guide shoes may be made of softer material and each guide shoe may have a wear plate l8 of hard, wear-resisting material secured to themner face thereof which contacts with the blade, and this wear plate may be welded or otherwise secured tothe guide members I1.

Any suitable means may be provided for placing the guide shoes into correct relation to the sides of the blade to be ground, preferably adjacent to the edge to be ground. In the particular embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, I provide means for yieldingly pressing the guide shoes toward each other and toward opposite sides of a blade when a blade is inserted between the guide shoes, and also for movably mounting the guide shoes relatively to the housing. In the particular construction illustrated for this purpose, the housing itself supplies this yielding pressure, and for this purpose is made of spring material and which exerts pressure against the guide shoes to urge them toward each other, although obviously separate spring means may be employed or any other means for positioning the guide members in engagement with the sides of the blade. The housing is provided with downwardly extending portions or sides 20 having inwardly extending flanges 2| formed thereon. The guide shoes I1 are also provided preferably near the end portions thereof with outwardly extending webs or brackets 22 which preferably have recesses or notches 23 formed on the outer edges thereof. The inwardly extending flanges 2| are provided with corresponding reoesses or notches 24 adapted to engage the webs or brackets 22 at the outer edge thereof and within the recesses 23 therein. This structure, consequently, forms a fulcrum or pivotal connection between the spring means and the guide members in which pressure is applied to the guide members intermediate of their upper and lower edges, so that the guide members, when pressed against the sides of a blade, will always assume positions such that they contact fully with the sides of a blade, regardless of how far apart the sides may be or whether they converge or diverge, and can immediately adjust themselves to changes in the relation of the sides of a blade lengthwise thereof. The guide members I! may have outwardly extending flanges 25 which may abut against the inwardly extending flanges 2| of the housing and form in effect the lower limits of the notches 23 in the webs or brackets 22. If desired, the flanges 25 may be provided with outwardly extending slits 26 to facilitate the manufacture of the same and to provide greater flexibility of the guide members H.

- the fulcrum connection described. In theconstruction shown, each guide member has secured thereto one or more spring arms 30, two being shown in the construction illustrated, the lower ends of which are rigidly secured to the guide members and the upper ends of which are held in central position with reference to the housing I5. As a matter of convenience, I have shown single piece spring members formed with a sharp bend in the middle thereof so that each spring member has an arm for each guide member, but it will be understood that these arms may be made of separate pieces and may be hinged together at their upper ends or may be merely held or centered relatively to each other by the housing 15. By connecting two adjacent spring arms of opposite guide members at their upper ends, the two guide members are formed into a single guide device or unit. In order to correctly center these spring arms, the housing is provided at its upper middle portion with inwardly bent tabs or projections 3|, which may, for example, be formed by integrally inwardly bent portions cut from the housing itself, which consequently forms holes 32 in the upper portion of the housing. As a result of this construction, the arms 3!! will yieldingly hold the housing and guide members H in correct relation to each other, but will permit the guide members to adjust themselves to the sides of the blade which is being operated upon, upon their fulcrum connections with the housing. Any other means for yieldingly positioning the guide members relatively to the housing may be employed.

The stone or grinding or abrading element It; may be centered with reference to the blade and to the guide members I! in any suitable or desired manner, and as a matter of convenience, I employ the housing l5 for the purpose of centering the grinding element 16. For this purpose, a part of the housing member I5 is formed of inverted V-shaped cross section by means of a pair of substantially flat inclined or converging upper faces 35 meeting at an apex or ridge 36 at the top of the housing. Beyond these flat faces 35, the sides of the housing are curved as shown at 31 and terminate in the lower flat sides 20 of the housing. Because of this shape of the housing, it will be seen that the grinding element or stone l6 when pressed into the V-shaped portion of the housing by the blade A will be correctly centered or positioned with reference to the housing. In the particular construction shown, the edge of the blade is to be ground in a direction transversely to the middle plane of the blade, and consequently, the housing is shaped to center the grinding element It approximately in the central plane of the blade. If, however, it should be desired to grind a bevel edge on the blade, the housing can readily be changed or modified in such a manner that the V-shaped portion thereof will be located at a side of the center of the housing, whereupon the grinding element will be positioned at one side of the central upright plane of the housing. By means of this construction, the cylindrical grinding element will always be correctly positioned with relation to the guide members, even if the element becomes reduced in diameter by use, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 10. I

In grinding or sharpening devices as heretofore made, it has been found that the useful life of the grinding element is very short for the reason that by the use of the same on blades, grooves would be formed on the peripheral surface of the grinding element so that after a short time the grinding surface of the element l6 would be changed in such a way as to no longer cut the desired surface on the edge ofthe blade. In order to avoid this diific'ultm- I provide means whereby the grinding element l6 maybe turned about its axis at frequent intervals so as to prevent the cutting of grooves in the periphery of the same. For this purpose, a relatively large opening 40 is formed in the housing I5 through which the grinding element! 6 is accessible. Consequently, after one or more passes of the grinding element along the edge of the blade, the grinding element l 6 can readily be-tur-ned slightly soas to expose another portion of the peripheral surface of this element to contact with the edge of the blade. By continuing the turning of the grinding element in this way, the surface of the same will be worn down uniformly, so that the grinding element may be used until very greatly reduced in diameter.

The upper portion of the housing is preferably provided at the ends thereof with turned over flanges 41- at opposite ends thereof which serve to prevent cutting or injury to the handof the user of the sharpening device. These flanges are preferably provided with recesses or slits so that the flanges 4| will not resist the free flexingof the resilient housing l5. p

The ends of the guide members I Tmay be flared outwardly as indicated at 42 to facilitate the insertion of a blade between the guide members.

In the use of the sharpening device described, it is merely necessary to insert the blade between the guide members I! and then to move either the blade or the sharpening device so as to pro.- duce endwise movement of these two parts while pressing the parts toward each other so that the blade and grinding device will be pressed into contact. After one or two longitudinal movements, the pressure between the blade and grind ing device is preferably momentarily released and the grinding element !6 is given a slight turn to prevent grooving of the same. The grinding may be continued until the desired edge is produced. During the use ofthe device, the blade and grinding element arealways maintained in correct relation to each other. In Figs. 8,- 10, and 11 are shown variously shaped blades A, A and A and these figures also illustrate how the guide members I! adapt themselves to the 1 shape of the sides of the blades adjacent to the edgeto be ground. This is made possible because of the flexible end connection between the housing and the guide members. The centering of the housing with reference to the central plane of: the blade is effected through the medium of the arms 38 engaging the projections 31 of the housing. When the sharpening device described is used in connection with a blade of varying thickness along the length thereof, the manner in which the guide members adapt themselves to such a blade is shown in Fig. 9. It will be noted that the spring arms 38 which are arranged beyond the ends of the grinding element l6 also serve to limit endwise movement of the grinding element IS with reference to the housing l5. The guide members may be easily'removed from the housing by disengaging the notches 23 thereof from the notches 24 of the flanges 2i of the housing, whereupon the grinding element'l6 may also be removed from the housing through either end thereof, so that if desired the grinding element may be replaced by another.

It will be obvious from the foregoing descrip tion, that my improved grinding device makes 3 possible a very. accurate grinding of edges of blades regardless-of the shape and thickness of the blades, since the guide members will atall times yieldingly' locate the grinding element in correct "relation to'the edge'to be ground -Inthe use of the device, the blade is first placed between the guide members, and positioned in contact with the edge to be sharpened. The spring arms 30 then position: the housing and grinding element in correct relation to the blade.

Relative lengthwise movement of the grinding.

device and blade may then be elfected, either by holding the blade and moving the grinding device lengthwise thereof, or byholding the grinding device stationary and moving the blade lengthwise thereof; After a few lengthwise'movements, or after each lengthwise movement, the

grinding element is given a slight turn about its axis as described to prevent grooving of the grinding element. It will be understood that if the housing I5 is held'stationary, the guide members l'l, through the spring arms 30 will move the blade into correct relation to the housing.

The grinding device is particularly desirable for use in connection with the hollow grinding.

of skate runners and other blades, which is e'f-TF fected by the'cylindrical shape'of' the grinding elementand'the relation'infwhichit is held to the blade. Owing to the'fact that the V-shaped portion of the housing centers a cylindrical grinding element regardless of the diameter of the same, it Willbe obvious that various degrees'of concavity of the ground edge may be'obtained by using grinding elements of different diameters. For example,- when grinding a thin blade or runner as shown in Fig. '10, it maybe desirable to provide concave surface of small radius, l

and consequently, a grinding elementof smaller diameter may be used to accomplish the desired result. The fact that the grinding element can be turned intermittently to expose dilferent portions of the cylindrical surface thereof to the blade, so that the grinding element-may be kept in cylindrical form, also greatly facilitates the' hollow grinding of blades.-

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for grinding an edge of t a blade, including a grinding element, a pair of guide;

members for engaging the opposite sides of the blade adjacent to the edge to be ground and mounted to move toward and from each other and also jto swing .into various angular relations to each other to lie in the planes-of the sides of a blade, yielding means for pressing said guide memberstoward each other against the sides of a blade and which are connected with e said guide members to perm-it free swinging movement of said guide members, and means for correctly positioning said grinding element with relation to the positions of said guide mem bers. Y

2. A device for grinding an edge of a blade, including a grinding element, a pair of guide members for engaging the opposite sides of the bladeadjacent to the edge to be ground, spring means for pressing said guide members toward each other and having a pivotal connection with said guide members to permit said guide members to adjust themselves relatively'tothe sides of the blade independently of said spring means, and means for correctly positioning said grinding element'relatively to said guide members.

3. A device for grindingfan edge-"offa blade; including a grinding element, "a pair of guide members for engaging the' opposite sides of the blade adjacent to the edge to, be ground, a housing .within which said grindingv element is arranged and which exerts a spring pressure against said guide members for urging them toward each other, and a pivotal connection between said .housing and said guide members through which said spring pressure is exerted and which permits said guide members to adjust themselves to the sides of said blade independently of said housing.

4. A device for grinding an edge of a blade, including a grinding element, a pair of guide members for engaging the opposite sides of the blade adjacent to the edge to be ground, a housing within which said grinding element is arranged and which exerts a spring pressure against said guide members for urging them toward each other, a pivotal connection between said housing and guide members through which said spring pressure is transmitted and which permits said guideinembers to adjust themselves with reference to the sides of a blade independently of said housing, and means connecting said guide members in said housing for moving said housing into a position to present said grinding element into correct relation to said guide members.

5. A device for grinding an edge, ofpa. blade, including a grinding element, a. pair of guide members for engaging the opposite sides of the blade adjacent to the edge to be ground, yielding means for pressing said guide members toward each other and which are connected with said guide members to permit said guide members to adjust themselves relatively to the sides of the blade independently of said pressing means, wear plates of hardened material secured to said guide members for contacting with said sides of a blade, and means for correctly positioning said grinding element with relation to the positions of said guide members.

6. A device for grinding an edge of a blade, including a substantially cylindrical grinding element, a resilient housing in which said element is removably secured and which is open at one side to receive a blade and the opposite side of which has a V-shaped recess in which said element is located in correct relation to said blade, a pair of guide members formed separately from said housing and fulcrumed thereto and yieldingly urged toward each other by said housing, and means for positioning said housing and element in correct relation to said guide members when in engagement with a blade.

7. A device for grinding an edge of a blade, including a substantially cylindrical grinding element, a pair of guide members arranged to engage opposite sides of a blade adjacent to the edge which is to be ground, a housing of resilient material having a part containing said element and other parts having pivotal connections with said guide members for yieldingly pressing said guide members toward each other, and means for correctly positioning said element with relation to said guide members when engaging a blade and when said blade engages said element.

8. A device for grinding an edge of a blade, including a substantially cylindrical grinding element, a pair of guide members arranged to engage opposite sides of a blade adjacent to the edge which is to be ground, a housing of resilient material having a part containing said element and other parts having pivotal connections with said guide members for yieldinglypressing said guide members toward each other, means for correctly positioning said housing with relation to said guide members, and means on said housing for correctly positioning said element when the same is pressed against said blade. Y

9. A device for grinding an edge of a blade and including a grinding element, a housing in which said element is confined, guide members pivotally connected with said housing and yieldingly urged by said housing toward each other and between which a blade may be inserted into contact with said element, and a yielding connection between said guide members and said housing for yieldingly urging said housing into correct location with reference toa blade to cause said housing to present said element into correct relation to the blade when said blade and element are pressed into contact.

10. A device for grinding an edge of a blade and including a grinding element, a housing in which said element is confined and which is made of resilient material, guide members pivotally connected with said housing and pressed toward each other by said housing and between which a blade may be inserted into contact with said element, and yielding connections between said guide members and said housing for yieldingly urging said housing in a position in which-said element is presented in correct relation to a blade positioned between said guide members.

11. A device for grinding an edge of a blade and including a grinding element, a housing in which said element is confined, guide members pivotally connected with said housing and arranged to engage opposite sides of a blade to be sharpened, and means connecting said guide members and said housing for positioning said housing and said grinding element in correct relation to the edge to be ground.

12. A device for grinding an edge of a blade, including a cylindrical grinding element, a housingin which said element is confined and having a space formed therein lengthwise of the axis of said element into which a blade to be ground may be inserted, guide members pivotally connected to said housing and arranged in said space in position to engage opposite sides of a blade adjacent to the edge to be ground, and means for positioning said element in correct relation to said guide members, whereby a blade and element are presented in correct relation to each other.

7 13. A device for grinding an edge of a blade, including a cylindrical grinding element, a housing in which said element is confined and which includes an upper portion of V-shaped cross section within which said grinding element may be centered with relation to said housing, said housing being made of resilient material and the lower portions thereof having inwardly extending flanges provided with notches, a pair of guide members having fulcrum connections with said flanges in said notches, through which connections pressure from said housing is transmitted to said guide members to yieldingly urge them into engagement with the opposite sides of a blade which may be inserted between said guide members, spring arms secured to said guide members and extending upwardly within said housing at opposite ends of said element, parts on said housing between which the upper ends of said spring arms extend and which confine said spring arms against lateral movement relatively to said housing, whereby said guide members and housing are yieldingly held in correctrelation to each other to cause an edge of a blade when arranged between said guide members, to be correctly positioned with reference to said grinding element.

14. A device for grinding an edge of a blade, including a grinding element, a housing in which said element is confined and having a longitudinal opening through which a part of the blade to be sharpened may be inserted, guide members arranged in said opening and pivotally connected with said housing to engage the sides of a blade to position the same in correct relation to said grinding element, and a spring connection between said guide members and adapted to eni gage said housing for locating said guide members and housing correctly with reference to each other, said guide members being removable from 5 said housing.

15. A device for grinding an edge of a blade, including a grinding element, a housing in which said element is confined and having a longitudinal opening through which a part of the blade to be sharpened may be inserted, guide members arranged in said opening and pivotally connected with said housing to engage the sides of a blade to position the same in correct relation to said grinding element, and a spring connection between said housing and said guide members for yieldingly holding said housing and guide members in correct relation to each other to cause said element and blade to be presented into correct relation to each other for grinding.

16. A device for grinding an edge of a blade, including a cylindrical grinding element, a housing within which said element is confined and which is provided with an opening extending parallel with the axis of said element and 35 through which a blade to be sharpened may extend into contact with said element, guide mem- 5 bers arranged in said opening for engaging the opposite sides of a blade, means for yieldingly and having a portion thereof of substantially V-shaped cross section into which said cylindrical element may be pressed to correctly locate said element with reference to said housing, said housing also having side portions extending from said V-s'haped portion and forming between them a space through which the edge to be sharpened may enter said housing, a pair of guidemembers arranged in said space and adapted'to slidably engage opposite sides of a blade adjacent to the edge thereof to be sharpened, said housing being of resilient material and exerting pressure on said guide members urging the same toward said blade, a pivotal connection between said guide members and said housing to'enable'said guide members to adjust themselves with reference to the sides of said blade independently of said housing, spring arms secured to said guide members and extending transversely of said housing with an apertured part through which said ele- V ment is accessible for rotating the same about its axis to present differentportions of the surface thereof for contact with said blade.

18. A device for grinding an edge of a blade, including a grinding element, a pair of guide members for engaging the opposite sides of the.

blade adjacent to the edge to be ground,a housing of resilient material confining said grinding element and provided with means for correctly locating said grinding element relatively to said housing when pressure is exerted against said grinding element by a blade, said guide'members being free to adjust themselves relatively to the sides of said blade independently of said housing and being yieldingly urged toward each'other 7 by the inherent resiliency of said housing, and a connection between said guide members and said housing for centering said housing with relation to the blade which is being operated upon.

WILL ALBAN CANNON. 

